A Calculus of Suffering

By Martin S. Pernick,

Book cover of A Calculus of Suffering: Pain, Professionalism and Anesthesia in Nineteenth-Century America

Book description

Analyzes the impact of anesthesia on nineteenth-century medicine, discusses the advantages and disadvantages of anesthesia, and explains how rules for its use were developed

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked A Calculus of Suffering as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Most of us figure doing evil, even if good results, is not ethical but without this, there would be no medicine. Martin Pernick covers the discovery of anesthesia and the ethical dilemmas this new ability to save lives by poisoning people posed. Anesthesia is a technique and techniques are amoral. How do we ensure they enhance rather than diminish us? How do we avoid seduction into a sleep during which we can be cosmetically enhanced? Is there a limit to how many drugs we give children to manage their behaviour – just because we can? Treating and stopping are not the…

From David's list on how medicine should be.

Want books like A Calculus of Suffering?

Our community of 11,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like A Calculus of Suffering.

Browse books like A Calculus of Suffering

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in calculus, medicine, and ethics?

Calculus 10 books
Medicine 101 books
Ethics 136 books